Damper for pianos



(No Model.)

J.- R. PERRY.

DAMPER FOR PIANO$.

No. 364,601. Patented June 7, 1887.

N, PEYERS vhmumo m fier, Washinglon. 11c

' the course of construction.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. PERRY, OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DAMPER FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,601, dated June 7, 1887.

Application filed January 19, 1887. Serial No. 224,800.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. PERRY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented ccr-. tain new and useful Improvements in Dampers for Pianos, of which the following is a speciti cation, reference being had therein to the ac companying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in damper-blocks for pianos; and it consists in the detailed construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my damper-block in Fig. 2 is a simi lar view ofa block complete, and Fig. 3is a view of a modification of my invention.

In carrying out my invention,among others, my object has been to provide means whereby the splitting of the damper-block in tightening therein the damper-wire is totally prevented. Heretofore the damper-blocks have been made of one single piece of wood, which will invariably on tightening thelscrew split, either horizontally through the aperture formed for the passage of the wire or crosswise in a vertical li11e,thus rendering the block useless. To remedy this evil is one of the objects of my invention, and to this end I form the damper-block of a series of veneers, the grain of the wood of which runs in different directions, whereby the screwing home of the screw will prevent the splitting of the damper-block in either direction.

Among the many ways in which this may be accomplished that which is most preferable consists in providing a long block or strip, A, cut and arranged so as to cause the grain thereof to run crosswise or horizontally. To each side of this block or strip I secure, by gluing, veneers a a, the grain of which runs up and down, or in a vertical direction, so as to form across-section veneer to the block or strip A. After thus securing the veneers to the central block or strip, I glue on top thereof a horizontally-disposed strip, or cap, B. This U being accomplished, I then cut or divide the long complete block thus formed into a series of sections or small blocks, as shown in Fig. 2, through the center of each of which is passed an ordinary screw for tightening, as usual, the wire passed through said block or section.

From what has been said it will be seen that by means of my invention the splitting of the block is prevented by opposing the grain of the veneers from three different direot-ions namely, the central block or strip, the two side veneers, and the horizontal strip or cap.

I do not restrict myself to any precise method or form of disposing the cross-sectional parts of my damper-block, as the same result may be accomplished by removing the center of a block, A, as shown in Fig. 3, and gluing therein a strip of wood, a, the grain of which is opposed to that of the block proper.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a damper-block with a nut inserted lengthwise therein, and having a set-screw working in said nut for retaining the lever-wire of the pianokey, and hence I do not make claim to such construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A damper-block composed of a central strip of wood, Veneers secured on the sides thereof, having their grain opposite to that of the central strip, and the cap fitted on said strip and veneers, the grain of which is opposed to that of said strip and veneers, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH It. PERRY.

Vito esses:

I. H. CAMPBELL, J. NOTA MoGILL. 

